Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-17
BUILDING TO THE SEA.
PROGRESS OF WORK ON THE
TYBEIa RAILROAD.

TIE Track Laid Nearly 20 CAustOn
Blur and Trains Running Part OF the
Wary-A Trip over the Road I" VII
uington River-The Work on Me-
Queen's Misunderstanding the Bridges
as the time approaches for the great
hotweather factory, unlimited. to start up
for the summer, Savannahians instinct
lively think of the TyOee railroad ana
wonder how it is progressing. There IS
an unanimous objection on the part Of
the public to living through another
sweltering term without some relief In
the shape OF an ocean resort. Last year
there was not even steamer down 10
JySee, and never before did the city miss
II so much. That. however, is all a thing
of the past, and a recurrence OF II Is out
Of the question.
The iron track which is 10 connect oa-
vannah with Tybee is being rapidly LAID,
and unless everything goes wrong the
road will be completed before the SUR
gets warm enough for bathing.
A DRIVE TO WILMINGTON RIVER.
Yesterday afternoon Capt. D. &. Purse,
accompanied by a representative OF the
MORNING NEWS, drove along the road as
far as W ilmington river. TIE track is
laid from the Savannah, Florida and
Western track we'll across Deptiord plan
tation, and will soon reach Causton's
Bluff. A locomotive and long train OF
fiat cars were hauling sand from the hrst
deep cut on the TwicKenhatn dairy farm
for ballastIng the track. The tie layers
are in advance, aud close behind them
are the workmen putting down the new
rails. The EN- bankment Is remarkably
solid AID will make firm roadbed.
The greatest surprise along the line Is
the embanLment on McQueen's island.
" hat was supposed to be an oozy quag-
hire turned out to be tough blue clay,
which, when thrown up, dries out and be-
comes for all the uses of railroad as
solid as granite rock.
ACROSS THE RIVER.
After crossing the Wilmington river
che track trends to the northeast With a
graceful curve, and as far as the eye can
distinguish II the track eweeps away
seward. The embankment follows Il
slight ridge. and there IS natural drain
age on either side. The bank ~ only a
few feet high, but it is above any tides that
have risen since IL was built and the en-
gineers say that there is no danger Of its
beng lujured by the water. 1t is pro-
tected on both sides by thick growth Of
marsh cane, which is regarded ae sufi.
Client 10 break the force OF the strongest
tides.
in getting the earth for the embank-
ment, the laborers dug out deep pits,
leaving some of them separated by mar
row walls Of clay. Although these holes
are nearly full OF water, the thin earth
partitions are still standing, which is
good evidence that the clay holds together
well. This part Of the line it was long
believed TO be impossible TO build, except
or piiing. Now 1t is one Of the frmest
foundations for the roacbed on The line.
Instead OF sinking and being swallowed
up in the marsh, the clay thrown up for
bank grew hard, and in places the sides
or the bank are nearly perpendicular.
BUILDING THE BRIDGES.
AT Wilmington river a pile driver Ia
busy putting down piles for the middle
pier on which the draw will turn. The
piles tor the abutment on the east side
are ali down. When the middle pier is
completed work will be started on the
pier on the west side OF the river. Tine
river bottom turns out to be firm instead
of mud as was supposed. Although the
piles have been sharpened, they can
ecarceIy be budQed an inch more than
nine feet with a $500 pound hammer
dropping % to 80 feet. The iron bridge is
expected daily.
Tn, re is very little more work TO do GU
McQueen's Island except lay the trace
and ballast, and the company expects to
have the road turned over bv the cOntrac-
tor IN about seven weeks. Trains will be
ronniug to Causton's Bluff shortly, Fort
Barlow having been cleared of for pic
mic ground.